tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514Wed, 22 Jul 2015 14:06:08 +0000musicMusic MondaywritinglifeBlood and TearsmoviesfantasyreadingThe Epic of Andrasta and RondelRise and FallSteel and SorrowpublishedTop TenWalk Through FireWhat Makes a Great Storycomic booksreviewTrial and GloryWarleaderholidaysThe Writing ProcessebookThe Tyrus ChroniclefamilysportsThe Cult of SutekcoverinfluenceskidsHero of SlavesThe Tower of Bashanaudible.comaudioThe City of PillarshumorpaperbackForgotten SoldiersTVadoptionmapssword and sorcery60k ChallengeWayward SoldiersNFLTop Fivecartoonsfaithgamesgoalshorrorinterviewspublishingshort storysuperheroAfter the PlagueResurrected SoldiersThe Maze of Hidesiappearancecausescomicscrohnseditingentertainmentfreegiveawayguest postinspirationmagicrantsalesscifisigningworkJoshua P. Simon - The Accidental Authorhttp://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)Blogger371125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-8018040378272563655Mon, 06 Jul 2015 19:16:00 +00002015-07-06T15:16:54.546-04:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Queen - Flash Gordon ThemeThis song has been in my head constantly as of late. It is a good example of a great theme song attached to an awful movie. <br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MS4_Z84-rRE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/07/music-monday-queen-flash-gordon-theme.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-6802132234234123792Sat, 27 Jun 2015 02:03:00 +00002015-06-26T22:03:07.971-04:00gamesBoard Game InfoSo, I’ve played quite a few more board games since my last post (games like Battlelore, Liberatalia, Summoner Wars, Valley of the Kings, Smash-Up, Splendor, Lords of Waterdeep, etc.). I think they are all awesome. A couple have already joined my growing collection while the others definitely made it to my Amazon wishlist. I’ve been doing some research here and there at the two resources below and found both to be really helpful for anyone looking to expand or grow their collection. <br /><br /><a href="https://boardgamegeek.com/" target="_blank">https://boardgamegeek.com/</a><br />This is a great website where you can get reviews, post on message boards, track your own collection, or buy/sell/trade with others. There is so much here and I’ve barely had the time to really dig into it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dicetower.com/" target="_blank">http://www.dicetower.com/</a><br />Dice Tower is an awesome site in that it gives video or podcast reviews of seemingly every game out there. There are also quite a few top ten lists that I’d highly recommend. Besides being very informative, I think they’re also pretty entertaining.<br /><br />I’m also hosting my first mini game night this weekend with three other people. They’re all pretty big into gaming so I expect it to be a blast. My hope is that we can get together every 4-8 weeks. Eventually, I’d like to throw in a couple of game nights with a large group of people. However, before doing that I need to increase the number of seats in my home. My wife and I plan to remedy that as we’ve been building a large dining room table that should seat between 10-12 people. We had talked about doing this because our home actually has the space for a large dining room table. The fact that this can be used for a bigger game night is sort of the icing on the cake. <br /><br />So, any thoughts on the games I mentioned above? Any recommendations for what I should look into next? http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/06/board-game-info.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-4920381233230571286Tue, 23 Jun 2015 21:49:00 +00002015-06-23T17:49:49.642-04:00musicMusic MondayTunes Tuesday - Armored Saint - Win Hands DownBeen listening to the new Armored Saint album quite a bit since I saw them open for Saxon a month ago. Just as good as their classic stuff. <br /><br />Win Hands Down <br /><iframe width="420" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MA-C8_zgLXo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Mess <br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tepLj9ZpZmI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />An Exercise in Debauchery <br /><iframe width="420" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/td41DBHGzGY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/06/tunes-tuesday-armored-saint-win-hands.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-4337703676229884309Wed, 17 Jun 2015 02:39:00 +00002015-06-16T22:39:16.354-04:00musicMusic MondayTunes Tuesday - Singles SoundtrackI only own two soundtracks. One is a greatest hits CD of all the Rocky movies. The other is from the movie Singles. The movie itself isn’t very good, but the CD is unbelievably good. AIC, Hendrix, Screaming Trees, Mother Love Bone, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, The Lovemongers. <br /><br />I could pretty much link each track from that album, but that seems a bit excessive. So, below are two of Pearl Jam’s best songs, a really heavy Soundgarden song not on any of their regular studio albums, and one of the best things Chris Cornell ever did. <br /><br /> State of Love and Trust <br /><iframe width="420" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FdgJl1AIsto" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Birth Ritual <br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6Rei5VFFtO8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Breath <br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8GeZ7fd_90A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Seasons <br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TksqEIl1uxU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/06/tunes-tuesday-singles-soundtrack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-6752805978701952481Tue, 02 Jun 2015 02:49:00 +00002015-06-01T22:49:11.021-04:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Green Day - 2000 Light Years AwayOne of my favorite Green Day songs and unfortunately it rarely gets any recognition. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wjwMvFX5A4I" width="420"></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/06/music-monday-green-day-2000-light-years.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-7368338757294062812Fri, 15 May 2015 19:27:00 +00002015-05-15T15:27:15.201-04:00entertainmentgamesBoard Games GaloreAs mentioned in a <a href="http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/05/general-update.html" target="_blank">previous blog post</a>, I’ve been lucky enough to play a lot of board games at work with my coworkers during lunch. This has led me to buying several newer board games for myself and making a massive Amazon wishlist for many more. Thankfully, my wife has been indulging me in this so far. <br /><br />I’ve also recently met several people at the church we meet with who are into gaming as well. So my opportunities to geek-out are exponentially increasing. For someone who always loved board and card games, but found it hard to find people with similar interests, I am getting closer and closer to nerd heaven. <br /><br />Anyway, below are the top five games I’ve played so far since February (I hadn’t even heard of these before then.)<br /><br />5. Carcasonne – This is an easy game to learn, but for some reason I haven’t figured out a solid strategy yet. Still fun. I’ve only played the expanded base set. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81yCol7KOSL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81yCol7KOSL._SL1500_.jpg" height="320" width="303" /></a></div><br /><br />4. Ticket to Ride – Super easy to play and pretty fun as well. I’ve only played the original version, but I hear the Europe expansion is also cool since it introduces new features to the game. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61dDQUfhuvL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61dDQUfhuvL.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />3. Citadels – This one is a lot of fun. The one downside is that it takes longer than the an hour lunch break so I’ve only had a chance to play it with a large group once and then once again with four people. However, the two-player option works really well as my wife and I have played it several times. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ERjMoDg8L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ERjMoDg8L.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></div><br />2. Dominion – Easy and a lot of fun. I’ve only played with the base set and the Intrigue expansion so far, but I have fun with it every time. The games go quick which means we can usually play 2-3 during lunch. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51oLNanfMnL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51oLNanfMnL.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />1. Seven Wonders (with Leaders and Cities expansions) – I’ve played this game the most out of all others, in part because everyone likes it, and also because it plays 8 people so there is no splitting up into two groups. We can usually do a full game (including scoring) in less than 40-45 minutes. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71pDF89mgnL._SL1089_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71pDF89mgnL._SL1089_.jpg" height="300" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I’ll get a chance to play Forbidden Island, Flashpoint, Liberatalia, and a couple others in the next month or so. Others I’ve also played that didn’t make the list (but still really enjoyed) include, Dixit, Sushi-Go, Guillotine, Poo, Word on the Street, and Wits and Wagers. Any cool games I should know about? Or thoughts on the ones listed? http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/05/board-games-galore.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-6288647169420891783Tue, 12 May 2015 02:41:00 +00002015-05-11T22:41:57.162-04:00kidsmusicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Deep Purple - Highway StarThis Music Monday is for my son. At 5 years old, this is probably one of his favorite songs and he’s turning into a big fan of Deep Purple (which is awesome). <br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AUtHC9L2CdI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/05/music-monday-deep-purple-highway-star.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-6873434010457825407Thu, 07 May 2015 23:25:00 +00002015-05-07T19:25:31.848-04:00Forgotten SoldierslifeResurrected SoldiersThe Epic of Andrasta and RondelThe Maze of HidesiThe Tyrus ChronicleWayward SoldiersGeneral UpdateI haven’t done a very good job of updating my blog these last six months or so. Other than a few random posts and some end of year lists, it’s mostly been information about new releases. Not necessarily a bad thing, but not ideally what I’d like my blog to be about either. Even my Music Monday posts are getting less consistent. <br /><br />There are a lot of reasons for that, but mostly it goes back to time and priorities. <br /><br />You see, though I do get some traffic here, it isn’t a huge amount so it is hard for me to justify writing a deep and meaningful blog post that may take 30 minutes to 2 hours (depending on content and length) only to have it go mostly unread. Especially because I can be more productive using that time to write and get my next book out sooner (something most people reading this would probably rather anyway). Even still, I’d like to get a bit more regular with blogging again. I thought the best way to do that might be to get some general updates out the way. <br /><br />New state, new house, new job and so on . . . <br />We moved from North Georgia to North Texas (in order to be closer to family) in February after a quick job search and house hunt. It was in the middle of all the crazy snow and ice storms so that made life pretty interesting for us (try traveling with 3 kids under 5 across that many states and then camping out in a single hotel room). <br /><br />We got a lot more house than what we had before with only a fractional increase in price (Thank you Texas!). Overall, we love it, and the area. However, like most people we’ve been busy with all the small things you have to do with a new place: a heavy cleaning, some painting, fixing clogs and leaky toilets, replacing ceiling fans, etc. <br /><br />Most of the pressing improvements are out the way, but there’s still a few things we’ll be working on in the coming months. <br /><br />The new job is great too. It’s a step up in position and salary with lots of room for growth. The work is interesting and the people are really great (a few are big geeks like me). The one negative is that I don’t have quite as much personal time as I did before. 7:30-5:00 are the core hours with not much in the way of flexibility. The different hours and the inability to write during my lunch break as I used to have taken some getting used to. Making my word count is a bit more difficult. <br /><br />Though I can’t write during lunch, the group I work with plays board/card games in the conference room during that time (pretty geeky ones) and that’s been really awesome. I’ve always loved that stuff, but rarely have I been around people with that interest. I’ll have to do a separate blog post on those I’ve played so far. <br /><br />Writing . . . <br /><i>Wayward Soldiers</i> came out earlier this year. It’s sold well so far and helped increase sales on the first book in <b>The Tyrus Chronicles</b>, <i>Forgotten Soldiers</i>. I’ve been really pleased with how well the series is doing, even more so because there has been a carryover into my backlist. Hopefully, that continues. <br /><br />Overall, they books have been well reviewed too, especially from those with a military background or interest which really means a lot to me. Granted, the series is different than most of what’s out there so it doesn’t necessarily resonate with everyone. That’s ok. To paraphrase Wayne’s World: “Even Led Zeppelin didn’t write songs that everyone loved.” <br /><br />The fourth <b>Andrasta and Rondel</b> book, <i>The Maze of Hidesi</i>, is off with betareaders right now. Fingers crossed on feedback. It should go to my editor in early July. I’m hoping for a late August release. <br /><br />I’ve started work on the third <b>Tyrus</b> book, <i>Resurrected Soldiers</i>. Though it’s early, I’m really enjoying the process so far. Ava gets to take a more prominent role in the narrative than she has in the past, and I think the story will be better because of it. <br /><br />So, that’s it for right now. Busy as usual. Lots of stress and little sleep. But isn’t that everybody? http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/05/general-update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-4514636938338972600Tue, 05 May 2015 00:20:00 +00002015-05-04T20:20:35.146-04:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Michael Jackson - BADBeen introducing my kids to some stuff from my youth as of late (MTV era). I know Michael Jackson was a weird person and there’s a ton of controversy surrounding what he did or didn’t do, but the music still holds up well. <br /><br />As a kid, I remember wearing out the BAD cassette. <br /><br />Below are my two favs from that album. <br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yUi_S6YWjZw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HzZ_urpj4As" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Music http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/05/music-monday-michael-jackson-bad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-2189314310023656568Fri, 17 Apr 2015 21:48:00 +00002015-04-17T17:48:50.730-04:00The Epic of Andrasta and RondelThe Tower of BashanTHE TOWER OF BASHAN is now an audiobook!<i>The Tower of Bashan</i> is now available as an audiobook! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1j4ZAK6GA0/VTF_gTp9EwI/AAAAAAAAAe0/v5RtJwOMojg/s1600/The%2BTower%2Bof%2BBashan%2B1200x1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1j4ZAK6GA0/VTF_gTp9EwI/AAAAAAAAAe0/v5RtJwOMojg/s1600/The%2BTower%2Bof%2BBashan%2B1200x1200.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Her goal is in sight. His plan is in place. Those who force their hand will pay.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The journey to the Tower of Bashan has tested Andrasta and Rondel’s partnership, threatened their friendship, and left them with a wealth of scars. After months of research and careful planning, the tower is now before them. They are confident that with the knowledge they have gained, they will defeat the guardians protecting the Jewel of Bashan within. <br /><br />Their progress is halted when they discover that the entrance is no longer the same. With the tower taunting the pair and their plan useless, they take out their frustration on each other until a quick-witted, young girl gives them an idea on how to succeed. A new plan is formulated, creating political waves and upsetting the criminal underground. <br /><br />They entered Bashan to steal a jewel, but they may just quicken a civil war. <br /><br /><i>The Tower of Bashan</i> is the third volume in <b>The Epic of Andrasta and Rondel</b>.<br /><br />You can get your copy through Amazon or Audible by clicking on the buttons below.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tower-Bashan-Epic-Andrasta-Rondel/dp/B00W5YRHI2" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SuyIqgSwIz8/To2uIUwCIVI/AAAAAAAAAHc/-PVTSUXZIPg/s320/amazon%2Bbutton.png" height="33" width="100" /></a> <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/The-Tower-of-Bashan-Audiobook/B00W4EIULG/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1429156423&amp;sr=1-1" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55uHtiaEb_s/UWHrXrFNj7I/AAAAAAAAAMM/Z3uKmryD7g4/s320/audible%2Bbutton.png" height="33" width="100" /></a></div>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-tower-of-bashan-is-now-audiobook.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-4977782347827608489Tue, 14 Apr 2015 01:54:00 +00002015-04-13T21:54:57.640-04:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Allman Brothers - Whipping PostThe musicianship speaks for itself. <br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FUvxRjYqjEQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/04/music-monday-allman-brothers-whipping.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-2069410824089052358Tue, 24 Mar 2015 03:28:00 +00002015-03-23T23:28:24.315-04:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Sister Rosetta TharpeI just learned about Sister Rosetta Tharpe this past week and that’s a shame. This woman could flat out play and sing. She did both better than most of the blues and rock legends of the time. Seriously, Chuck Berry doesn’t have anything on her. <br /><br />Awesome stuff. <br /><br />Up Above my Head <br />(A very obvious influence to King’s X – Over my Head) <br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JeaBNAXfHfQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />That’s all <br /><iframe width="420" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l9bX5mzdihs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Didn't It Rain <br /><iframe width="420" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SR2gR6SZC2M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/03/music-monday-sister-rosetta-tharpe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-5436246807025517041Sat, 21 Mar 2015 02:20:00 +00002015-03-20T22:25:56.583-04:00The City of PillarsThe Epic of Andrasta and RondelTHE CITY OF PILLARS is now available as an audiobook!<i>The City of Pillars</i> is now available as an audiobook! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sx-ClGNfH94/VQzVQAZtJMI/AAAAAAAAAeM/LEDCBlHTg-4/s1600/the%2Bcity%2Bof%2Bpillars%2B1400x1400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sx-ClGNfH94/VQzVQAZtJMI/AAAAAAAAAeM/LEDCBlHTg-4/s1600/the%2Bcity%2Bof%2Bpillars%2B1400x1400.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A partnership formed. A friendship grew. Both are tested. Neither may endure.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Andrasta and Rondel have spent months in the city of Zafar, obtaining knowledge they will need to steal the famous Jewel of Bashan. Something goes wrong when pilfering an artifact crucial to their goal, bringing the wrath of the local authorities against them. <br /><br />A beautiful woman helps them escape Zafar in exchange for their help recovering a family heirloom. <br /><br />The seemingly simple job turns complicated as they learn the heirloom is in the possession of the feared Hubul’s Host, a band of warriors devoted to the Erban father of the gods. <br /><br /><i>The City of Pillars</i> is the second volume in <b>The Epic of Andrasta and Rondel</b>.<br /><br />You can get your copy through Amazon or Audible by clicking on the buttons below.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-City-Pillars-Andrasta-Rondel/dp/B00UOD32VC" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SuyIqgSwIz8/To2uIUwCIVI/AAAAAAAAAHc/-PVTSUXZIPg/s320/amazon%2Bbutton.png" height="33" width="100" /></a> <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/The-City-of-Pillars-Audiobook/B00UMDCGBQ" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55uHtiaEb_s/UWHrXrFNj7I/AAAAAAAAAMM/Z3uKmryD7g4/s320/audible%2Bbutton.png" height="33" width="100" /></a></div>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/03/city-of-pillars-is-now-available-as.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-8081474549580455315Tue, 17 Mar 2015 02:52:00 +00002015-03-16T22:52:09.718-04:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Armored Saint - Can U DeliverCan U Deliver? (live) <br /> <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/su18i-6nYs0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/03/music-monday-armored-saint-can-u-deliver.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-6985590552010427336Wed, 11 Mar 2015 22:40:00 +00002015-03-11T18:40:51.274-04:00The Tyrus ChronicleWayward SoldiersWayward Soldiers - OFFICIAL RELEASE<div style="text-align: center;"><b>A father. A mentor. A leader. Still, a soldier. </b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_sUHt2RjiMg/VOOt12EWIlI/AAAAAAAAAdI/ZL1OIaQkErA/s1600/Wayward%2BSoldiers%2B1000x1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_sUHt2RjiMg/VOOt12EWIlI/AAAAAAAAAdI/ZL1OIaQkErA/s1600/Wayward%2BSoldiers%2B1000x1600.jpg" height="640" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><i>Wayward Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book Two</i> is now available! Click <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wayward-Soldiers-Tyrus-Chronicle-Book-ebook/dp/B00UIDP76G" target="_blank">here</a> for your Kindle now. A paperback version can be found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wayward-Soldiers-Tyrus-Chronicle-Book/dp/1508775117" target="_blank">here</a>. <br /><br /><i>Wayward Soldiers</i> is the second book in <u>The Tyrus Chronicle</u>. Two more books are planned for this series: <i>Resurrected Soldiers</i> and <i>Forever Soldiers</i>. Stay tuned for their anticipated release dates. <br /><br />Here's the description for <i>Wayward Soldiers</i>. <br /><br />Tyrus expected his world to change once the Geneshan War ended. He expected it to change more once he finally reunited with his family. <br /><br />He did not foresee that the biggest upheaval to his world would be caused by Turine sorcerers tampering with an ancient Geneshan artifact in the capital city of Hol. <br /><br />The land stands devastated and covered in a haze. Sorcerers are unable to use their power. The king and capital are likely destroyed. Raiders seek to profit in a world without law. <br /><br />Tyrus decides that he must get his loved ones to the safety of the Southern Kingdoms if they are to have any chance of surviving. &nbsp;The quick flight he plans turns into a labored journey when local townsfolk join his party. Expecting only new dangers now before him, Tyrus fails to anticipate old ones haunting his steps. <br /><br /><i>Wayward Soldiers&nbsp;</i>is the second volume in <b>The Tyrus Chronicle</b>.<br /><br />If you enjoy the story or any of my other works, please consider leaving a rating or review at the site of purchase as well as other places such as Goodreads and Librarything. Like many other indie authors, I do not have a marketing team working for me and a positive review (even if only a couple of sentences long) can go a long way in enticing others to give my works a try. <br /><br />Thanks for the continued support!http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/03/wayward-soldiers-official-release.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-2977676964750650621Mon, 09 Mar 2015 14:00:00 +00002015-03-09T10:00:05.044-04:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Judas Priest - Hell is HomeI’m a huge Judas Priest fan. To me Rob Halford is the perfect metal singer. That being said, the two Ripper albums don’t get enough credit. For example, this track is not only one of my favorite Judas Priest songs, but one of my favorite songs of all time. Period. <br /><br />I usually focus on lyrics last with any song, but this is a case where I’ve always felt a connection to them. I’ve played this song on repeat for like 10-20 times before (something I never do) when I’ve gone through some really dark stuff in my life. One of the few songs, I actually get chills from every time I listen to it. <br /><br />FYI, a little NSFW in the beginning. <br /><br />My favorite section is below. <br /><br /><i>Say my whole life I've always been disliked </i><br /><i>Ignored unless you're spitting insults at me </i><br /><i>And I don't know why you felt so justified </i><br /><i>In all the degradation that you dished on me </i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Oh! Now my status has changed </i><br /><i>And you've got yourself to blame </i><br /><i>Oh! I'll grab all the attention I crave </i><br /><i>Now I'm running Hell - Heaven won't be the same </i><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xRvQ0FW09nE" width="420"></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/03/music-monday-judas-priest-hell-is-home.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-248220617452875795Tue, 03 Mar 2015 03:23:00 +00002015-03-02T22:23:28.279-05:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Aerosmith - Back in the SaddleThe past few weeks have been beyond crazy. And though it’s going to stay that way for a while it seems, I’m going to try and get more consistent with blogging again. <br /><br />So, I thought this song was fitting to the occasion. <br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uIPS4LyveJs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/03/music-monday-aerosmith-back-in-saddle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-4874998091872656799Tue, 17 Feb 2015 21:11:00 +00002015-02-17T16:11:09.555-05:00The Tyrus ChronicleWayward SoldiersWayward Soldier - Book Two in the Tyrus Chronicle cover revealI wanted to reveal the cover for the next book in <b>The Tyrus Chronicle</b>. <i>Wayward Solider - Book Two </i>is scheduled to be released in early March.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_sUHt2RjiMg/VOOt12EWIlI/AAAAAAAAAdE/cLBXmjLVZeg/s1600/Wayward%2BSoldiers%2B1000x1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_sUHt2RjiMg/VOOt12EWIlI/AAAAAAAAAdE/cLBXmjLVZeg/s1600/Wayward%2BSoldiers%2B1000x1600.jpg" height="640" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The illustration, as with <i>Forgotten Soldiers - Book One</i>,&nbsp;is by Mario Teodosio. You can see his other work&nbsp;<a href="http://marioteodosio.carbonmade.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. My wife did the cover design again.<br /><br />Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/02/wayward-soldier-book-two-in-tyrus.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-4463030315472458847Thu, 12 Feb 2015 23:19:00 +00002015-02-12T18:19:52.370-05:00audible.comaudioThe Cult of SutekThe Epic of Andrasta and RondelTHE CULT OF SUTEK is now an audiobook!I'm excited to announce that <i>The Cult of Sutek</i> is now available as an audiobook! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6CXVgfZe-Oo/VN0tL6R6igI/AAAAAAAAAcw/X7THeAcvRWs/s1600/The%2BCult%2Bof%2BSutek%2B1200x1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6CXVgfZe-Oo/VN0tL6R6igI/AAAAAAAAAcw/X7THeAcvRWs/s320/The%2BCult%2Bof%2BSutek%2B1200x1200.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>His life has no purpose. She’s out to prove hers. An unlikely alliance forms. Their legend is born. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Rondel, a once famous minstrel is crippled and rotting away in prison. He has nothing to live for until Andrasta, a mysterious warrior, gives his live meaning again. The pair escapes prison and in the aftermath, form a partnership they hope will lead to fame and fortune. Their journey is a long one, filled with peril, adventure, and even failure. <br /><br />The ancient cult of Sutek grips the land of Iget. Framed by the cult for kidnapping and attempted murder, Rondel and Andrasta help a young noble rescue his sister in order to clear their name. <br /><br /><i>The Cult of Sutek</i> is the first volume in a planned series of standalone sword and sorcery adventures in <b>The Epic of Andrasta and Rondel</b>.<br /><br />You can get your copy through Amazon or Audible by clicking on the buttons below.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Cult-Sutek-Andrasta-Rondel/dp/B00TG4YVII" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SuyIqgSwIz8/To2uIUwCIVI/AAAAAAAAAHc/-PVTSUXZIPg/s320/amazon%2Bbutton.png" height="33" width="100" /></a> <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/The-Cult-of-Sutek-Audiobook/B00TAHG5W6" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55uHtiaEb_s/UWHrXrFNj7I/AAAAAAAAAMM/Z3uKmryD7g4/s320/audible%2Bbutton.png" height="33" width="100" /></a></div>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-cult-of-sutek-is-now-audiobook.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-4591977286783222592Tue, 10 Feb 2015 01:54:00 +00002015-02-09T20:54:41.164-05:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - L.A. GunsFeeling a bit nostalgic today for the good old MTV days. <br /><br />L.A. Guns – The Ballad of Jayne <br /><iframe width="420" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s6198qSm0Y0?list=PLFD31B534924AB156" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/02/music-monday-la-guns.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-7587684316751171161Mon, 02 Feb 2015 19:13:00 +00002015-02-02T14:13:46.541-05:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Workin' for a Livin'So, this blog has been pretty neglected as of late and with good reason. The new year has been pretty brutal and stressful for our family. At least one person (usually multiple people) has been sick in our immediate family for the past six weeks (and we’re all sick now). <br /><br />Besides that I had been looking for a new job which resulted in my flying to Dallas and going through four very long interviews over a 3 day period. The trip was productive though as it resulted in an offer (which I accepted) from a company I’m really excited about. On top of that, my wife flew to Dallas this weekend (while I stayed home with three very sick kids) and house hunted. And we are now under contract. <br /><br />Today, I’m putting in notice to my current job (last day will be Feb 16th) and then it is all about transitioning off this job, moving from Georgia to Texas, getting settled, and starting a new job on February 27th. <br /><br />And to top matters off, I was writing the fourth Andrasta and Rondel book before putting that draft on hold to finalize audio files with my narrator for The Cult of Sutek. And I will shortly begin work on final edits for Wayward Soldiers (Book Two of the Tyrus Chronicle). Given all the stuff going on above and a few other things I’m not going to get into, it will be difficult to get Wayward Soldiers out in February as I had hoped. So, early March might be the more realistic date. <br /><br />Regardless, the beginning of 2015 is a pretty busy period for us. But also an exciting one. <br /><br />So, in honor of the new job and subsequent new bills . . . <br /><br />Huey Lewis and the News – Workin’ for a Livin’ <br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lcIK3akktLU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/02/music-monday-workin-for-livin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-4594365124184497540Mon, 19 Jan 2015 20:25:00 +00002015-01-19T15:25:44.900-05:00Remembering Martin Luther King, Jr.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sharegoodthings.com/pics/t/4069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.sharegoodthings.com/pics/t/4069.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Today is the celebration of a great man who probably doesn’t get celebrated enough. For some reason, we look to Dr. King’s inspiration today, but too often forget about him and what he stood for during the rest of the year. That should stop. <br /><br />Most people know his famous “I have a dream” speech. However, he said countless other things that should be an inspiration for all of us each and every day. The below article I found provides a few of those quotes that are far less known than others. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/1/19/7552977/martin-luther-king-quotes" target="_blank">http://www.vox.com/2015/1/19/7552977/martin-luther-king-quotes</a>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/01/remembering-martin-luther-king-jr.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-5288567380321763774Mon, 12 Jan 2015 20:56:00 +00002015-01-12T15:56:18.981-05:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Carcass - HeartworkJust about every death metal band out there owes something to Carcass (especially those on the melodic side). The classic <i>Heartwork</i> album is just unbelievable start to finish, especially the guitar work. <br /><br />Plus, there’s a lot of good anger on this album as well and I never get tired of that. ;) <br /><br />Heartwork <br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/o9v5qFRA6Gw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Embodiment <br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Cy-KR4jg5v4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />No Love Lost <br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0Sx77QjchMU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/01/music-monday-carcass-heartwork.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-3916775530142499497Fri, 02 Jan 2015 20:18:00 +00002015-01-02T15:18:03.815-05:00goalsThe Epic of Andrasta and RondelThe Tyrus Chroniclewriting2015 Writing GoalsIn January of 2014, I posted the following writing related goals. The results are bolded. <br /><br />1. Write two to three books. This will probably be <i>Book Three</i> of <u>The Epic of Andrasta and Rondel</u> (currently working on this…about 35K into the rough draft), completing <i>Book Two</i> in <u>The Tyrus Chronicle</u>, and either working on <i>Book Three</i> in <u>The Tyrus Chronicle</u> or going back and doing <i>Book Four</i> of <u>The Epic of Andrasta and Rondel</u> series.<br /><br /><b>Done. I wrote <i>The Tower of Bashan: The Epic of Andrasta and Rondel, Vol. 3</i> and published it this past summer. I also wrote <i>Wayward Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle – Book 2</i> which is currently with my editor. I’ve started <i>The Maze of Hidesi: T</i></b><b><i>he Epic of Andrasta and Rondel, Vol. 4</i></b><b><i>&nbsp;</i>(over 50K written so far) and will finish it early this year.</b><br /><b><br /></b><b>I was hoping to be a bit further along in Volume 4, but overall it’s been a pretty productive year considering what I’ve published. </b><br /><br />2. Publish four to five novels. This will be the first three books in <u>The&nbsp;Epic of Andrasta and Rondel</u> and at least the first book in&nbsp;<u>The Tyrus Chronicle</u>. I’m hoping I might be able to publish the second book in <u>The Tyrus Chronicle</u> as well, but I’ll have to play that by ear. If I do get it out it will probably be around December. <br /><br /><b>Done. I later decided it made more sense not to push things and publish four books in 2014 (still quite a bit of work) rather than kill myself and my wife trying to get one more out. </b><br /><b><br /></b>Overall, I’m pretty pleased with how the year turned out from a writing/publishing perspective. <br /><br />2015 Writing Goals <br /><br />1. Publish <i>Wayward Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book 2 </i><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1A. Hoping to get this published in February 2015. <br /><br />2. Finish writing <i>The Maze of Hidesi: The Epic of Andrasta and Rondel, Vol. 4 </i><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;2A. Hoping to publish this in Late Summer 2015. <br /><br />3. Write <i>Resurrected Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book 3 </i><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;3A. Hoping to publish this in November or December 2015. <br /><br />4. Start writing either <i>Book Five</i>&nbsp;in <u>The Epic of&nbsp;Andrasta and Rondel</u> series or possibly the last <u>Tyrus</u> book. This will depend mostly on my state of mind at the time I’m ready to start working on these. <br /><br />5. Maybe publish a short story I’ve got lying around that needs a bit more polish and a cover. It would be a good way to get one more thing out this year from me if I can get it together. <br /><br />6. Release the first three <u>Andrasta and Rondel</u> books in audio format. I’ve hired a voice actor/producer I’m really excited about these. The plan is for all three to be available before the summer months. <br /><br />So, those are the writing goals. If I can accomplish all of it, I’ll consider it a very successful year. <br /><br />What are your 2015 goals? http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2015/01/2015-writing-goals.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4912133659140600514.post-2013948256985922536Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:15:00 +00002014-12-29T10:15:00.434-05:00musicMusic MondayMusic Monday - Stuck Mojo (Mini Concert Review)On December 26th, I got to see Stuck Mojo for the first time as the band got together for a reunion show. In my mind, they really don’t get the credit they deserve. They were one of the pioneers in combining rap and metal. However, they never got the fame of the garbage nu metal bands, but somehow still got associated with them which immediately turns most people off from checking them out. <br /><br />And that’s a shame. Rich Ward is probably one of the most underrated guitarists in metal. Just a great riff creator and song writer. Bonz does an excellent job fronting the band with lots of energy. Plus, Corey Lowrey’s clean vocals are amazing and his bass playing is perfect for Frank’s groove behind the drums. <br /><br />Lots of energy and an unbelievable live show. You know a show is intense when two people are knocked out with concussions (one had a wound on the back of his head) before the end of the third song of the set. <br /><br />They ended up only playing tracks from their first three albums so I thought I’d give a small sample from each of those below. <br /><br />Do yourself a favor and check it out. <br /><br />Twisted <br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/3arcT9CRfFc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Throw the Switch <br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/p0NpeWe5sGk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Not Promised Tomorrow <br /><iframe width="420" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yCaLFxvfDEk?list=RDyCaLFxvfDEk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>http://joshuapsimon.blogspot.com/2014/12/music-monday-stuck-mojo-mini-concert.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Joshua P. Simon)1